How Green Becomes Wood

"Where will you put everything you have hanging when you take it down to repaint?" Dark asked, thinking about how Alec had only semi-recently managed to get his room clean, and feeling some concern about if rearranging all his systems to repaint might set him back.
 
"Folders for anything not in a frame, frames stacked and put in a box, folder in the box with the frames, and that box, hmm, maybe in the closet," Alec decided. "Most of everything else I own is already boxed up in one way or another. I thought I might ask Xander what sort of currency he'd require for permission to store at least some of it in his van."
 
"Kiki is a bit of a sticking point," Alec admitted. "I'm not quite sure what to do with her. I certainly can't stick her in the van! Is just locking her out of my room a good option? I'm not sure."
 
"I thought I'd make sure I was allowed before I got my heart set on a specific color or design or whatever," Alec said. "And I thought asking you directly would give you the chance to come to terms with the idea of changing a room you're basically never in. If I'd Mama first, we'd already be pulling everything out of the room and getting the first primer coat down." He grinned mischievously at his father. "That might have been a bit too jarring for you."
 
Alec glanced at him speculatively. "Is it because you're afraid of how much inconvenience I'll cause to the rest of the household, or because you're worried about me in my indecisiveness?"
 
Dark was quiet for awhile. Then, looking out at a road he said, "You never inconvenience me. But you have made excellent progress and I would hate to see you find yourself set back." Then, after an even longer pause, he confessed, "and I like your rainbow, on the rare occasion I see it. It was the first time it really made me believe you and Xander would stay with us."
 
"Oh," Alec said with realization. He didn't say anything for a bit, thinking about this. "That would be a shame to take it away from you," he said seriously. "That is a good memory. As for me... Maybe you have a point. How about if I think about it for a while longer and consider what I might want instead, taking into consideration longevity? And maybe trying to think of ways to protect the rainbow."
 
"I would not consider it you taking anything away from me," Dark replied kindly, despite the fact he'd miss it, "but I think it is smart to take more time to consider what you would like."
 
"Alright. I'll put painting my room in the solid maybe-leaning-to-yes category," Alec said, content and happy with that outcome. "Thanks, Ba! I'm going to tell Mama about it. With an emphasis on the still-to-be-established bit. And I need to talk to Kiki about it, of course."
 
"That is the curse of becoming an adult," Dark replied, lightly touching Alec on the shoulder before following him inside.

Downstairs, Daizi was in the living room with Ivy, who was well up from her nap and was enjoyiny dumping cups full of popsicle sticks and pom-poms out onto the floor.
 
Alec quickly kicked off his shoes and touched the salt, a little difficult with a handful of flowers, but he managed it. Then he hurried into the living room and called, "Mini! Mama!"
 
"Well, that's a fine hello from the Mini," Alec snickered. He went to Daizi and touched her hand, guiding it to the flowers. "I brought you something from work. I thought you might enjoy them while they last."
 
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